Daesh 2nd phase of Taliban project: deputy CEO

KABUL (Pajhwok): First deputy chief executive officer Eng. Mohammad Khan said on Sunday the Islamic State (IS) or Daesh group was second phase of the “Taliban project.”

Khan said this while talking to Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy in Kabul, said Habib Rahman Ibrahimi, the CEO office deputy spokesman.

The deputy CEO said Russia was an international power and wielded considerable influence over many world’s affairs.

Despite problems with Afghanistan in the past decades, Moscow had generously assisted Kabul in areas of education, higher education, mines and others, he said.

About the newly-emerged Daesh group, Mohammad Khan said the group was “second phase of the Taliban project” and wanted to reach central Asia through Afghanistan.

Khan said the unity government would strongly counter the group, but the fight direly needed Russia’s and other countries participation. He said the Afghan army was capable enough to play an effective role in combating the threat.

Khan said regional and world powers should deliver on their pledges of strengthening the Afghan army.

The Russian envoy assured of his country’s cooperation with Afghanistan, saying the federation supported an independent and stable Afghanistan, according to Ibrahimi.

Mantytskiy said his country had facilitated Afghan security forces in receiving training in the country, a process still ongoing. The envoy promised 20 scholarships for Afghan border security personnel to enhance their capacity.

The Russian ambassador urged the unity government to participate in the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s summit.